Hair combing, cleaning, and training device



Feb. 26, 1952 A, C, SCHElTHE 2,587,389

HAIR COMBING, CLEANING, AND TRAINING DEVICE Filed July 13l 1949 Mv' lul /J ALW. /f

Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR COMBIN G, CLEANING, AND TRAINING DEVICE Arthur C. Scheithe, Chicago, Ill. Application July 13, 1949, Serial No. 104,437

10 Claims. 1

viding a better hairdo for both men and women,

it being understood that it could have application to the hairdress of animals such as dogs in a modified construction for application to hair that is courser than human hair.

Combs made from synthetics have been more or less universally used for many years, and it has served its purpose as a combing device with more or less satisfaction. With hair that is diftlcult to train or which is necessary of brushing after combing, the comb by itself is not too satisfactory. Consequently, individuals have resorted to water, hair dressing, hair curling fluid and a variety of other substances to assist the comb in providing the desired hairdo. Such substances are not entirely beneficial in that they attract foreign substances such as dirt, impart a greasy appearance to the hair, and have been construed as a detriment to the continued growth of hair. In large or industrial cities where there is a great proportion of foreign substances such as dirt and dust in the air, the hair becomes imbedded with these particles to such a degree that the ordinary comb is not effective in the removal thereof. This means that the individual in large or industrial cities resorts to hair washing and shampoo treatments in order to rid his hair of most/foreign substances.

With the teachings of the present invention, the comb is rendered more effective to perform its usual function as Well as to cleanse, train hair, stimulate the hair roots, and invigorate the growth of hair. This has been accomplished by detachably associating a highly flexible blade withithe standard comb so that the latterwill serve as a guide for the former, and all foreign substances including short hairs which arein abundance after a haircut will be removed While simultaneously imparting va sheen to the hair that improves the appearance and the texture thereof. This can be accomplished without any hair washing or shampooing treatments to the end that a great deal ofv expense, time, and inconvenience is eliminated with devices embodying features of the present invention. v .Y

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide an improved and simplified combined comb and blade that will cooperate to comb, cleanse, and train hair with-` out resort to extraneous expediente.

Still another object is to provide an improved combing blade that is associated with a comb of standard construction serving as a guide therefor in more eiectively combing, cleansing, and stimulating hair training and growth.

A further object is to provide a highly flexible blade in conjunction with a standard comb which serves as a guide therefor in imparting sheen to the hair and removing all foreign substances therefrom including short hairs and the like.

A still further object is to provide a highlyflexible blade having a serrated edge for detachable association with a comb serving as a guide therefor in combing, cleansing, removing foreign substances, and training the hair, thereby providing a, more effective hairdo without resort to extraneous substances such as fluids and greases.

Still a further object is to provide a finely serrated and highly flexible blade in detachable association with a comb for more effectively treating the hair in accomplishing the desired combing, cleansing, training, and other functions incident to a completely satisfactory hairdo.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of a. combination comb and blade embodying features of the present invention. ,Y

Figure 2 is a bottomv edge plan view of the combination comb and blade shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view in elevation of the blade apart from the comb.

Figure 4 is a bottom edge plan view of the blade shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a bottom edge plan view of the blade attaching clip or retainer for detachably associating the blade with the comb.

Figure 6 is a sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line VI-VI of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary illustration of a mans head of hair showing the use of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to serve as a limitation upon the scope or teachings of the invention, but is merely illustrative-thereof. There may be considerable vari ations and adaptations of all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictates of commercial practice. 'Ihe present embodiment comprises an elongated standard comb III of limited flexibility that is made from synthetic compositions such as phenols or other suitable plastics to provide a reinforcing rib or shank II along the top edge thereof. The elongated rib or shank II tapers from the small and narrow end I2 to the large or wide edge I3 where the thickness thereof is considerably greater or substantially twice the thickness at the thin end I2.

The top rib or shank Ii of the comb Il) terminates in convexly curved end teeth Ill--I 5 that project almost normal to the back or shank edge I6 that tapers from the thin and 'narrow end I2 to the thick and wide end I3. A. plurality of intermediate comb teeth Il-I8 of comparatively different courseness and size project from the rib or shank Il, and these along with the end teeth Ill-I5 terminate in a straight line to provide more or less pointed teeth tips I9. The fine teeth I'I are formedintegral with the shank II for-substantially one-half of its length from the narrow vand thin end portion I2 while the comparatively courser teeth I9 are formed integral with the shank I IA for the remaining thicker portion'extending from the thick andwide end I3 thereof. I

A highly lexibleand comparatively narrow tempered spring steel elongated blade2i) which is slightly narrower than the length of the'fsrnall end tooth I4, is sized for application flat against the fine teeth I1`of the comb I. Thevhighly exible .blade vis substantially rectangular in configuration except for the curved end corner 2| thereof to conform with the comb end I2, and it 'terminates in an elongated shank 22 which is narrower than the blade 2i] and substantially the same in lengthtoprovide an expedient for detachably associating the blade 20 with the comb IIJas will appear more fully hereinafter.

An elongated tubular blade shank retainer or clip 23 is provided for Wedging action along the tapered rib or shank I I of the comb I.

To this end, the clip 23 is rolled from metallic sheet material to present an elongated cylindrical member which is spaced at its confronting edges 24,-25 to provide a tapered .slot Zfconforming in dimensional outline substantially to the shape and taper of the Vcomb rib orv shank II so that there-will be a wedging action as the` clip or retainer 23 is displaced along-the comb ribV I tfrom the thin end I2 toward the comparatively thicker end I3 with the blade 20 and-itsextension 22 disposedadjacent the ribor shank I I ofthe comb I with the clip 23 riding over both. `This will cause the clip 23 to wedge .the comb I and the blade 20 togetherfor the extent 'of the-blade extension or shank 22fso that the blade 20 -is capable of free flexing forY reasons which will appear more fully hereinafter. With this arrangement, the blade 20 can be placed on either side of the comb I9 for left 4or right hand use with theblade 20 extending in alignment with the tapered .rib edge I6 and the thin and narow end I2 of the comb I0. In this position, the retainer extends substantially for the entire length ofand in confronting relation with the blade extension or shank 22.

It is to be noted that the lower edge of the blade 20 has a fine serration 21 therealong to more'or'less accommodate the individual hair4 strands vand to scrape the exposed surfacev of,4

the individual strands to limpart the desired cmbing tensionthereon while being displaced 4 along the length of the strands. The hair 28 on thehead or' a human 29 is placed under substantially greater tension than 1s possible with the use of the comb I0 alone so that the displacement of the latter with the blade '2li thereover will exert a scraping action of considerable extent and force. To this end, the blade 29 is preferably chrome plate to provide an ultra smooth surface lbetween the serrations 2 for imparting a sheen to thehair as the comb I0 guides the blade 20 along the individual hair Ystrands 28.

To provide the-*desired tension, the assembled unit is first grasped with the clip 23 in the palm of the users hand and the smaller end portion of the 'comb I0 with the fine teeth Ii lying substantiallyflatagainst the scalp with suihcient downward pressure exerted thereon to impart noticeabletransverse flex or bowing to the blade 26 (Figure 7). As the teeth IT-i8-I9 of the comb IDLtraversefthrough the hair strandsl 28, the trailing '..portion of the strands 28 become displaced between the comb teeth Il-IB-IS and impinge vagainst the unanchored portion of the blade 20 which is thus exed and spring urged against the hairstrands 28 -to tension and imparta-sheen thereto. Then the comb I0 with the blade 20 is drawn along the hair surface inthedirection of intended combing to Vexert substantial tensionon the individual hairfstrands 28. In so doing and in continuing the displacement of the comb Ill `with the blade 29 in a transversed curved or exed or bowed position owingv to `the downward pressure maintained thereon, the hair strands :'28 Will'be pulled straight and scrapedwith a considerable degree ofV pressure exerted thereon to the end that the hair.-

26` acquires a sheen that is signicantly similar to that acquired with certain hair shampoos and dressings. This tension exerted on the hair 28 with' the aid of .the exing of the combing member I0 and blade 2B -serves to trainsuch along the linesfthat heretofore has only been possible with an. extremely hard hair brush, but with far moreeiective cleansing owing to the shallow fine individual hair strand engaging serrations 21. By providing amore exible blade 20 than combing member I0,-a different tension can -be applied by selecting a comb I!! of vdifferent degreescan be-readily removed byA displacing the re-V tainer or clip 23-toward the-thin endV i2 `of theY comb I0-to remove all collected dirt and tomaintain the comb I with its blade 20 in a sanitary conditionA at all times. It should be notedthat when the device isutilized on animals or yindividuals having an extremely course hair, the serrations '21 will undoubtedly be gcourser than those illustrated and this should not be construed as a limitation upon the invention or its adaptations or uses.

`While the highlyiiexibleV blade 2.is shown applied "to a standard comb of comparatively less exibility, yet"'it"should be observedthat special combs may be provided depending upon WhilefI have illustrated and described a pre ferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that the invention is capable ofconsiderable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a non-metallic hair combing member, of a comparatively more flexible flat metal blade member associated with said combing member adjacent its teeth, and a fine shallow serrated edge on said metal blade for effective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train, and shine the hair strands as said combined combing and metal blade members are displaced in combing movements through the hair of an individual so that the hair strands transversely fiex said blade member away from said combing member teeth to exert an urge on the trailing hair strands.

2. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a hair combing member possessed of some transverse flexibility, of a :dat blade member of comparatively much greater flexibility than said combing member. said iiat blade member being associated with said combing member to lie adjacent its teeth, and a iine shallow serrated edge on said metal Iblade for effective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train, and shine the hair strands as said combined combing and metal blade members are displaced in combing movements through the hair of an individual so that the hair strands transversely flex said blade member away from said combing member teeth to exert an urge on the trailing hair strands. A

3. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a hair combing member, of a flat blade member detachably associated with said combing member, and a shallow nely serrated edge on said metal blade for effective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train, and shine the hair strands as said combined combing and metal blade members are displaced in combing movements through the hair of an individual so that the hair strands transversely vflex said blade member away from said combing member teeth to exert an urge on the trailing hair strands.

4. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a hair combing member possessed of some transverse flexibility, of a iiat blade member of comparatively much greater flexibility than said combing member, said flat blade member being detachably associated with said combing member to lie adiacent its teeth, and a shallow iinely serrated edge on said metal blade for effective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train, and shine the hair strands as said combined combing and metal blade members are displaced in combing movementsthrough the hair of an individual sothat the hair strands transversely flex said blade -member away from said combing member teeth to exert an urge on the trailing hair strands.

5. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a hair combing member, of a flat blade member associated with said combing member, means for detachably associating said flat blade member adjacent the teeth of said combing member, and a shallow finely serrated edge on said metal blade for effective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train, and shine the hair strands as said combined combing and metal blade members are displaced in combing movements through the hair of an individual so that the hair strands transversely iiex said blade member away from said combing member teeth to exert an urge on the trailing hair strands.

6. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a hair combing member, of a flat blade member associated with said combing member, clip means for detachably wedging said Iiat blade member adjacent the teeth of said combing member, and a shallow inely serrated edge on said metal -blade for effective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train, and shine the hair strands as said combined combing and metal blade members are displaced in combing movements .through the hair of an individual.

'7. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a hair comb having a reinforcing rib along an edge thereof, of a metal comparatively more exibly flat blade disposed adjacent the combing teeth of said comb to present a hair friction engaging edge therealong, and a blade retainer clip displaceable over said comb reinforcing rib to wedge and retain said metal blade against certain of said teeth of said comb for leffective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train and shine the hair strands so that the hair strands transversely flex said blade member away from said combing member teeth to exert an urge on the trailing hair strands.

8. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a hair comb having 'a tapered reinforcing rib of varying thickness along an edge thereof, of a comparatively iiexible blade disposed adjacent the combing teeth of said comb to present a hair friction engaging edge therealong, and a blade retainer clip having a slit or opening of varying width displaceable over said comb reinforcing rib to wedge and retain said iiexible blade against certain of said teeth of said comb for effective frictional engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train and shine the hair strands.

9. In a device of the character mentioned, the combination with a slightly iiexible hair comb having a reinforcing rib along an edge thereof, of a highly iiexible metal blade disposed adjacent the combing teeth of said comb to present a hair friction engaging edge therealong, and a blade retainer clip displaceable over said comb reinforcing rib to wedge and retain said flat blade against certain of said teeth of said comb for effective fricticnal engagement with individual hair strands to scrape, cleanse, train and shine the hair strands so that the hair strands transversely Iiex said blade member away from said combing ,mes-mee 7 membery yteeth to `exert; @an vTirrena..:onfthe i trailing hair! strands.

10. In a -device of `the character ..mentioned, the combination wiisha` slightly exible-hair comb having la reinforcing rib-.along an; edge: thereoi, 0f 'za highly Hexible metal blade v.disposed Vadjazmin;k .'theicombing teeth of' said.l comb.- a, shank extending from said blade, and a blade retainer clip displaceableover` said comb reinforcing-rib to wedgeiandz retain .said'zmetal blade shank'aganst m certain of` said; teeth of` saild:- comb :'foreefective frictioriai engagement with :individual lhair strands', saidmetal blade .having :ar-serratedgedge strands. Y

, la `"mareReferees :enen

The followingi references are of record E in..=.the lef ofl thisgpatent:

`f UNITED-'S'1-ATES PATENTS Number i Name .Date

L,358',442 i Hasson: IvNov.",9.1920 11526,'668 Gangi ,-*Feo 17,; 1925 12,180,834 Marcel ---.7 .V., ,Nov.21,"1 939 FOREIGNBATENTS Number Country 'Date =418j042 Germany Apr. 13,'1'1924 v:303;'106 "Great-Britain v "Janiy I0, 1929 

